Flower ID: IMG_7924.JPG-07-29-2023 Flower name (scientific): Symphytum officinale Linnaeus PY: 1753. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) sim-FY-tum oh-fiss-ih-NAH-lee Flower name (common): Common Comfrey Family name (common): Borage Family name (scientific): Boraginaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: From Greek, a name used by Dioscorides for healing plants. Specific epithet: Sold based on its real or its conjectured medical qualities. Common name origin: A plant used as a vulnerary. Comfrey is borrowed from French, also from medieval Latin confirma, conserva, or cumfiria, the latter is of uncertain etymology and the former two names refer to the healing qualities. Conserva a name used by Pliny. Flower description: Size: 0.4 to 0.8 inches (1.0 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: pink or purple Other: flower arrangement, Raceme Plant description: Size: 24 to 48 inches (61 to 122 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is alternate and/or opposite, type is simple Size: Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, ovate to oblong-lanceolate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Introduced Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): June to August Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, meadows, streambanks, semi shade to sun. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): No close lookalikes. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes from Wisconsin. The Cherokee used the plant to treat dysentery, heartburn, sprains, bruises, and gonorrhea (Moerman, p. 548, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Ashland, Brown, Clark, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire, Iron, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Portage, Price, Rusk, Sheboygan, Taylor, Vilas, Walworth, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AR, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, GA, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (AB, BC, MB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym:Symphytum officinale subsp. officinale (The other infraspecifics are Symphytum officinale subsp. bohemicum (F. W. Schmidt) Čelakovský, Symphytum officinale subsp. uliginosum (Anton Kerner) Nyman. Neither of thesse two subspecies have been recorded from North America.) Wetland Status (NC): Not listed Wetland Status (MW): Not listed